Trump photo restored to Epstein files by DOJ after review
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The US Department of Justice (DOJ) said on Sunday that it had restored a photo featuring President Donald Trump to the latest version of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein after a review determined that the image did not depict any Epstein victims.
The Justice Department said in a post about X that the photo was initially removed “out of an abundance of caution” after the Southern District of New York flagged it for additional review to protect potential victims.
After review, authorities concluded that no Epstein victims were depicted in the photo, and the photo was republished “without alteration or correction,” according to the Justice Department.
“The Southern District of New York flagged President Trump’s image for possible additional actions to protect victims,” the Justice Department wrote. “Out of an abundance of caution, the Department of Justice temporarily removed the image for further review. Following review, it was determined that there was no evidence that the photo depicted any Epstein victims, and the photo was republished without any changes or corrections.”
JEFFREY EPSTEIN ACCOMPLICE GHISLAINE MAXWELL TAKES ACTION TO EVACUATE THE GOVERNMENT DAYS AHEAD OF THE DEADLINE FOR THE PUBLISHMENT OF FILES
The Justice Department said the photo was initially removed “out of an abundance of caution” after the Southern District of New York flagged it for additional review to protect potential victims. (Ministry of Justice)
Earlier Sunday, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said during an appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that the photo’s removal “had nothing to do with President Trump” but was instead motivated by concerns for the women depicted.
The statement follows reports that at least 16 files disappeared from the Justice Department’s public web page on Epstein, a day after they were published on Friday, without public notice or initial disclosure, The Associated Press reported.
DOJ POWERFUL FIGURES AND EPSTEIN FILES EXPLODE OPEN AS DETAILS OF THE DISCOVERY OF MORE THAN 1,200 VICTIMS
Department of Justice headquarters seen in Washington, D.C. on February 19, 2020 (Drew Angerer)
Among the missing files was one showing a series of photographs displayed in a cabinet and inside a drawer. According to the AP report, there was a photo of Donald Trump with Melania Trump, Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell in the drawer.
On Saturday, Democrats on the House Oversight Committee criticized the photo’s removal, writing: “We need transparency for the American people.”
Democrats on the House Oversight Committee posted on[Attorney General Pam Bondi] Is this true? What else is being covered up? “We need transparency for the American public.”
HOUSE VOTE FINALLY TO FORCE DOJ TO RELEASE JEFFREY EPSTEIN FILES
The Justice Department released scores of Epstein documents on December 19, after President Trump signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act in November. (Joe Schildhorn/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)
The Justice Department released the batch of files after the Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed by President Trump on November 19, 2025, required AG Pam Bondi to release all declassified records, communications, and investigative materials related to Epstein within 30 days.
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The agency posted thousands of pages related to Epstein and Maxwell’s sex trafficking cases on a government website on Friday. The files were released as a result of the deadline imposed by the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
Fox News Digital’s Lori Bashian contributed to this report.
